The Most Mistaken Song Lyrics

Have you ever learned that a song you’ve sung your whole life is not what you thought it was? You’ve been singing the wrong lyrics? This happens to all of us, even those of us with the best ears. Most of the time you’ll have an “ah ha!” moment but sometimes you might just not believe the real lyrics.

Here are some of the most common mistaken song lyrics. Of course, there are hundreds more out there that people mess up frequently. Have you messed up any of these? Any of them surprise you?

photo by Austin Neill

The Most Mistaken Song Lyrics

The Eurythmics: Sweet Dreams

I don’t know about you but dreaming of cheese never quite made sense. It’s true, the lyrics aren’t “Sweet dreams are made of cheese”. The correct lyrics are “Sweet dreams are made of these.” But it’s not quite as much fun to sing that way.

Paul Young: Every Time You Go Away

Many people thought it was “every time you go away, you take a piece of meat with you”. Of course, the correct lyrics are “every time you go away take a piece of me with you.”

Sorry, that’s going to be stuck in your head now. Enjoy the meat you’re taking with you!

Dire Straits: Money For Nothing

You may remember singing “money for nothin’ and chips for free”. Of course, the correct lyrics are “money for nothin’ and your chicks for free.” I prefer free chips and maybe a little salsa. You?

Jimi Hendrix: Purple Haze

Do you remember thinking he was talking about kissing guys? “Excuse me while I kiss this guy” is, in fact, “Excuse me while I kiss the sky.”

Adele: Chasing Pavement

This one makes a hilarious visual. Perhaps she needs to actually sing a song about penguins. The mistaken lyrics are “Or should I just keep chasing penguins”. The correct lyrics are “Or should I just keep chasing pavements.”

Taylor Swift: Blank Space

Did you watch the hilarious parody video yet?? Go watch that now! Don’t deny it, you thought Taylor is saying “All the lonely Starbucks lovers” instead of “Got a long list of ex-lovers.” Didn’t you?

Bon Jovi: Livin’ on a Prayer

“It doesn’t make a difference if we’re naked or not” is, in fact, not the correct way to sing this song! It’s actually “It doesn’t make a difference if we make it or not.” That would make for a much different music video if those were the lyrics.

Queen: We Will Rock You

Did you ever fall into this trap? Did you sing “Kicking your cat all over the place” instead of “Kicking your can all over the place”? Sounds like it was a common mistake! I hope you now sing the correct lyrics to this classic.

REM: Losing My Religion

No. Just no. I hope you didn’t ever sing this one out loud!! “Let’s pee in the corner, let’s pee in the spotlight”. is actually “That’s me in the corner, that’s me in the spotlight.”

Sister Sledge: We Are Family

This one gets religious. “Let me just staple the vicar” is obviously “Just let me state for the record.”

Fifth Dimension: Aquarius

You’d have to not know the title of this song to get this one wrong. But when you listen to it you’ll forever hear “asparagus” from now on. “This is the dawning of the Age of Asparagus” is actually “This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius.”

Elton John: Tiny Dancer

Yes! This is a classic mistake. I prefer to sing it the wrong way for fun! “Hold me closer, Tony Danza.” So much better than “Hold me closer, tiny dancer.”